Hand loom



July 10, 1945. p, w, GREENWQQD 2,380,233

HAND Lodm Filed Dec. 15, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 10, 1945. 3, wGREENWQOD 2,380,233

HAND LOOM Filed Dec. 15, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 r ga- Z/ 2 26 --48Patented Jilly 10, 1945 UNlTED STATES T OFFICE 2,380,233 nann LOOMDonald W. Greenwood, .Wheaton, Ill. Appllcatlorfnecember 15. 1942,Serial No. 469,064

(Cl. ice-3s) 13 claims.

This invention relates to improvements in weaving looms of the typecommonly referred to a as hand looms. More particularly, it relates toimproved mechanism for mounting and operat-' ing the heddle frames ofsuch looms, and for dis-.

tributlng the forces applied for lifting and for lowering the framesagainst the resistance of number of treadles to produce more intricateweaves.

Another object is to provide an arrangement such that the actuatingforce applied to a heddle frame may be initiated at any location alongits extent without appreciable tilting of-the frame.

the warp so that endwise tiltingof individual heddle frames may beavoided even though the middle of the warp is located to one side or theother of the middle of the frames.

In hand looms, a plurality of-heddle frames are mounted for verticalreciprocationwith one or more of the frames moving upward"simultafollowing each cross-travel of the shuttle, to beat each newlylaid weft thread into the fell where it becomes a part of the wovenfabric.

Ordinarily the heddle frames are actuated by cord connections of theindividual frames to treadles which are actuated by the weaver and whichmust exert an actuating pull on the frame and particularly a freelysuspended vone as is usually the case in a hand loom, close to themiddle thereof in order for the frame 'to function properly, assumingthe resistance of the warp to shed-forming to be distributed equally onboth sides of the middle of the frame. Hence the treadles must becrowded together in the middle region of theloom. As a consequence, theuse of more than four heddle frames and consequent extension of thevariations in the .weave has been possible only by such concentration oftreadles in the middle region as to sacrifice convenience and ease ofoperation of the, loom or to extend the treadle zone with consequentdifficulties in applying the treadle forces properly frames. a

It isamong the objects of the present invento the tion to substantiallyincrease the capabilities of her and may be selectively connected to oneor the other of two treadles for producing a plain basket weave or othermore or less regular weave, or they may be variously connected to alarger The up-pull, and preferably also the down-pull. is transmittedfrom a treadle to a heddle frame through a floating lam, and is appliedto the frame at opposite end regions thereof through translators whichequalize the forces at the two end regions. Such a constructionconstitutes a further object of the invention.

Another important feature resides in the floating character of the lamsas contrasted with the heretofore pivoted lams.

' 'Still another object isto provide for quick and I easy shifting ofthe treadle connections to the frames when it is desired to change fromon variety of weave to another.

A further object is to mount my improved force-distributing andtranslating mechanism re miovably on the loom for its easy removal tofacilitate threading of a new warp through the loom.

Yet another feature to provide apermanent Y flexible sheet on the clothbeam having means at its free end for receiving the knotted leading endsof threads of a new warp, for carrying the warp end to the clothbeam. VIt is, moreover, an important object generally to improve the structureand operation of hand looms.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a weavingloom embodying features of the invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing my improved heddleframe operating mechanism applied to'a single frame; 5 Figure 4 is afragmentary elevation of one of the translators and its connection to aheddle frame, showing a neutral solid line position of the'frameand anelevated broken line position thereof and also showing howthe stroke ofa translator is varied to obtain equal movement of all heddles;

Figure 5 is a perspective of the frame of the loom of Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional detail in perspective showing a convenientmeans for removable connection of the leading ends of the warp I threadsto a flexible sheet, for initiating winding of the woven fabric on thecloth beam of the loom;

Figure 7 is a front elevation similar to Figure fled so long as the fourquadrangulu-ly-related critical points of the translator are provided 1but showing two sets of translators for ensur ing equal movement of eachend of a heddle in I opposite directions; and

dies.

Referring to the drawings, a frame which preferably. is of rugged woodconstruction comprises the four corner uprights ll connected by sidebeams l2, l4 andendbeams II, II and 2|, asbest seen in Figure 5. At eachside of the frame, at

a mid location between corner uprights II, an additional'upright 22extends to a height substantially above the corner uprights. Brackets 2ion these uprights 22 removably support a translator housing 28 whichextends from side to side of the loom. Housing 2| hasside' walls ,rm and21b and end walls 20a and at but it's 'top and bottom are open.

A usual warp beam or roller II is mounted in suitable bearings-at therear corner uprights II whence the warp W is drawn upward and over therear top cross beam 20 and forward through the floating heddle frames 22and through the dents 24 of beater reed II which coact with a shuttle(not shown) to organize the warp and,

' weft threads into cloth which is drawn over the breast-beam It to ausual cloth' beam or roller 82 mounted in suitable side. hearings on theupper side bars id of the frame. The cloth beam II ,is. equipped with aratchet II with which springurged pawls 42, one on-hand lever lrand oneon bar ll of the frame, coact to wind the cloth 0 on beam 32 as lever 44is intermittently lifted by the operator. The lever drops back bygravity to its normal unoperated position of Figure 2 after each manuallifting thereof, the pawl riding idly over the teeth of the ratchet asthe lever falls. A stop pin limits the downward travel of lever 44.

The loom is adapted to weave webs of various widths up to its capacityand for narrow webs the warp is not necessarily located in the middle ofthe heddle frames nor is the tension necessar ly equal in all ,warpthreads and neither, for many designs, are the warp threads controlledby a heddle frame in which the warp threads are distributed equally onboth sides of the middle of the heddle frame. Hence, when the frame isshifted to form a shed of the warp threads it controls, there can be astrong tendency for the warp to tilt the heddle frame.

According to the invention, the heddle frames 22 are suspended fromtransistors 40 which are rotatably mounted in the housing ,2. onuprights 22. The translators are arranged in groups at opposite ends ofthe housing, each group having as many translators as there are heddleframes. Eight translators in each group are here shown, cog to eightheddle frames, although a smaller or larger even number of transistorsmay be employed. Each translator of onegroup is connected to acorresponding translator of the other group so that the interconnectedtranslators have corresponding movements but in oppomte directions. Thetranslators of the respective groups are arranged face to face betweenthe side walls 21a'and 21b of the housing 20 and are individually freelyrotatable on axles SI passed through and carried by the side walls 210and 21b and each translator is represented as a square plate of suitablemrterial such as wood or metal,

Referring more particularly to Figures'i, 3 and 4, each of the fourcorners I, llr. It, b of eachtranslatorllhasaflexibiecordattachedtoitasbyascreweye ll screwedlntoeachcorner of the translator. Thevertically pposite corners of each translator of one group are connectedto the vertically opposite upper and lower corners of a correspondingtranslator of the other group by the crossed, relatively taut cords orcables '2, l4 so-that a clockwise rotation of either translator producescounterclockwise rotation of the other; That is to say, the cord 82 isconneci'ed to the top corner to! say the left hand translator and thebottom corner llb 01' the corresponding right hand translator while thecord It is connected between the bottom corner boftherighthandtranslatorandthetopcorner t of the left hand translator. w

The horizontally opposite corners of eacl translator (Figures land 3)are connected by the cords II, II, respectively, to a heddle frame andto a horizontal floating lam ll located below the heddle frame. Theinner corner llr of the left hand and I of the right hand interconnectedtranslators aredirectly connected to the top rail of the same heddleframe by separate cords linear opposite ends of the frame and theremaining outer corners ill and 4811 of each translator are directlyconnected to the lam by separate cords it near oppositeendsofthelam.Thereisasebflrate lam I. for each heddleframe, coasting with a separateinterconnected pair of translators ll.lnl'igure2eighttranslatorsllareshowngrouped on the axle ll, andvit'should be understood'that each is to be connected to one of eight heddleframes,- althoughonly two. such frames are illustratedinFigurez. 1

Each lam ll extends approximately from side toside oftheloomandmaybeprovided'onits under-edge with a series of eyelets .2 to anyselected one of which one end of a cord Il may be secured.Theotherendoftheoordwillbesecured to an eyelet ll on that treadle I, ofthe series of treadles, which is directly below the said connection ofthe cord tolam OI.-

By employing floating lams, the direct or indirect cord connection of aheddle frame thereto may be at any location along the 1am, and the lamis maintained horizontal so that equal movement of a heddle frame by atreadle will result regardless of the location of application of forceto the lam.

In a construction like that of Figures 1-3, the under edge of eachheddle frame 22 similarly may be provided with a series of eyelets IIfor selective direct connection by a cord 12 to a particular treadle itor a plurality of heddle frames and a plurality of lams may be connectedto one treadle and a plurality of different heddle frames and aplurality of different lams connected to another treadle, as illustratedin Fig. 8.

although here again the structure may be modi- 76 weaves and patternsare involved, less than the the breast beam l8 and asaaass" an tre'adleswould be connected for operating heddle frames. For an ordinary basketweave, all of theeight heddle frames, or any even. less number of themif less are used in threadinz the warp, may be connected to twotreadles. -For increasing complexity of weaves, an increasing number oftreadles will be brought into service.

In the embodiments of Figures 1-5, my improved force-distributing.translators 48 are em- P ed only in connection with 'the lifting of tentand also eliminating any tendency ofthe heddleframes to move sidewise.Hence, the full heddle framesTI. Preferably, however, a second set oftranslators I8, and a housing ll therefor,

- will be provided for a similar equalizing and transinnermost comer ofa translator 16, so that a down-pull applied to alam 80 at any pointalong it, will be transmitted to the heddle frame equally through thetwo cords 86, 8.8. The same facility for connection of the lams 80 toselected treadles 88' applies here equally as has been described inconnection with the upper set of translators.

- In operation, the warp W extends from the roll on the warp beam 8! upand over the rear transverse beam whence the warp threads extend forwardand are threaded through the heddles of the heddle frames 32 and betweenthe vertical dents 34 of the swingable reed or beater 36 which is shownpivoted low down on the frame as at 31. From the beater the warp threadscontinue forward and, having been combined with weft threads at thefell, the woven fa ric extends thence over ownward and rearward to thecloth beam 88 upon which it is wound. If an ordinary basket weave isdesired, such of the heddle frames as will actuate alternate warpthreads will be connected by their cords 12 di-- rectly tothesame'treadle. '68, and indirectly through cords 56, translators 48,cords 58,'lams 60 and cords 64 to a second treadle 68. Hence, depressionof either connected treadle 68 will cause one half the number ofconnected heddle frames 32 to move downward while the remainder moveends of the frames or anywherealong their exwidth of the loom isavailable for distribution of operating treadles, any desired number ofwhich may be brought into service in connection with the production ofdesired weaves and patterns.

- As to the operation of thetranslators and lams, assume, for instance,that the second pedal from the left, Figure 1, is depressed. This pedalis connected directly to the left hand portion of a 'lain 60. Due tothis connection, the lam pulls down more strongly on left hand cable 58than on right hand cable 88. The pull on left hand cable rotates theconnected translator 48 counterclockwise. thereby raising the left handend of the upward, to form the shed through which the bobbin' operatesto lay in a weft thread. Depression of the other connected treadle 68reverses the direction of travel of each group of heddle frames.

Obviously, any desired number of the heddle frames may be renderedinoperative merely by passing the warp threads between the heddlesthereof without threading them through the heddle'eyes.

When a more complex weave is desiredrthe heddle frames .may be connectedas before to two treadles 68, and also the heddle frames may bevariously connected directly and indirectly to other treadles as neededto form the variations of the pattern. In such a case the treadles willbe operated in proper sequence to produce the desired weaves anddesigns.

, It will be obvious that the invention provides an arrangement suchthat lip-pull or down-pull appliedto the heddle frames is distributedapproximately equally at opposite end regions of each frame, eliminatingor greatly reducing any tendency toward endwise'tilting of the framesassociatedheddle frame. At the same time, said translator pulls on cable52 of the crossed pair 52; 54, and rotates the associated righthandtranslator clockwise, thereby supplementing the weaker pull ofthe-lam'on this translator. The

result is that, both translators exert equal forces on the ends of theheddle frame to raise it uniformly at each end without tilting it... Sofar as equal movements at each end of the heddle frame are concerned,lt'is not essential that the lam be floating. It can be pivoted at oneend as has been the case heretofore and its connection with onetranslator eliminated. In such case, however, the heddle frames wouldhave different amounts of lift since the leverage of each treadlethrough lam arrangedfaisherein illustrated and described. I If,notcompensated for, however, there can be some difference inthe extentof movement of the,

different heddle frames, when a large number are used, because theconnection from a 1am preferably is brought down vertically to theassociated treadle. Thus the connection between the front lam and itstreadle is a greater distance from the common pivotal axis of thetreadles than is the connection of the last lam with its treadle. Sincethe treadles are of equal length and the strokes of the free ends of alltreadles preferably are equal, the first lam and hence its associatedheddle frame can have a somewhat greater movement than the morerearwardly disposed heddle frame or, preferably the stroke of the.rearwardheddle frames may be progressively greater than that of theforward frames. The movement or stroke of all heddle frames can beadjusted and equalized by suitably adjusting the leverage of the translators on theheddle frames as illustrated in Fig- I 481- is suitablydifferent, in different translators,

to equalize the stroke of all heddle; frames or to attain the mentionedprogressive increase of stroke of rearward frames.

When a new warp is being threaded through the loom, the upper translatorhousing 26 with its translators 48 may be lifted off the brackets 24 toclear out the space between the reed 34 and beam 20. Also facilitatingintroduction of anew warp is ,a flexible sheet 88 having one andpermanently attached to the cloth beam 38 and of length to extend.therefrom up over the breast beam l8, where its free end is providedwith a tubular formation 90 having transverse slots 92 3 regardlessotwhether the pull is initiated. below having a connection with anopposite endpart' of the associated heddle frame and each having crossedconnections to the other member, a float,- ing lam disposed above andcrosswise of said treadles having connections with said pivoted memberson the outer side of the axes of the members and outside of the ends ofthe heddle frames operative upon the depression of said lam to turn'bothpivoted Inembersin directions to move both ends of the associatedheddleframe in the same direction, and a substantially vertical connectionbetween said lam and a treadle for depressing said lam. v

2. In a hand loom, a plurality of heddle frames,

outer portions of the translators being outward of the planes of theends of frame,

r to the lam be.- tween its points of. suspension for effecting ve caltranslatory movement-of'the lam in one di rection and equalisedcorresponding movement of the heddle frame in the oppositedirection.

5. In a hand loom having a floating heddle frame and a floating lambelow the heddle frame, and means for equalizing the forces applied tothe heddle frame, that improvement which consists in equalizing meanscomprising a pair of rectangular plates rotatably mounted on fixed axesabove.

and toward opposite ends of the heddle frame and interconnected forrotation in opposite directions, connections between said rotatableplates and separately with said heddle frame and lam, from whichconnections said heddleiframe and lam are suspended, the heddle framebeing directly connected to said rotatable plates at fixed pointsthereon inward of their axes and the lam being directly connected tosaid rotatable plates at fixed points thereon outward of their axes anda series of. treadles for operating said heddle frames, a pair ofpivoted members for each heddle frame each mounted on a fixed axis, eachmember having a connection with an opposite end part of the associatedheddle frame and each having crossed connections to the other member, afloating lam disposed above and crosswise of said treadles having rigidextent greater than that of the heddle frame and having connections withsaid pivoted members on the outer side of the axes of the members andoperative upon the depression of said lam to turn both pivoted membersin directions to move both ends of the associated heddle frame in thesame direction, and a sub- 1 outward'of the planes of the ends of theheddle frame, and means for applying down-pull to the lam to effect-up-pull of the heddle frame.

6. In a hand loom, a plurality of floating heddle frames ands pluralityof floating lama one below and coacting with each heddle frame, and apair of'translators for each heddle, frame rotatably I mounted on fixedaxes above the respective heddle frames at spaced locations along theheddle frames, the translators of each pair being interconnected forrotation in opposite directions, in-

ner confronting portions of each --pair of translators having directsuspending connection to the heddle frame directly therebelow, andcorresponding outer portions of each pair of translators being outwardof the planes of'the ends of the heddle frames and having directsuspending connection to the lam directly below and coacting with theheddle frame which is suspended from a horizontal floating lam below theframe and an actuating lever below the lam, the combination therewith ofa pair of spaced apart translators rotatably supported on fixed axesabove the heddle frame and interconnected at a plurality of points oneach for rotation in opposite directions, means directly connectingcorresponding diametrically opposite points on each translatorrespectively to the top edge of the heddle frame inward of the axes ofthe translators and to the lam outward of the axes of the translatorsand outward of the planes of the ends of the heddle frameland meansconnecting the 1am said lever, whereby a down-" wardly directed forceincident to depression of said lever and applied to said lam istranslated into an upwardly; directed force applied to and equalized atspaced locations along said heddle frame,

4. 1:1 a hand loom comprising a heddle frame and an actuating levertherefor, the combination therewith of a pair of spaced aparttranslators rotatably supported above the heddle frame andinterconnected for rotation in opposite directions, upon innerconfronting portions of which the said heddle frame is directlysuspended, a floating lam suspended directly from corresponding outerportions of the translators and disposed horizontally between the heddleframe and said actuating lever and having rigidextent parallel to andfrom end to end of the heddle frame, and said that pair of translators,a pair of treadles pivotaliy mounted 'below and transversely of thelams, one treadle being directly connected to a plurality of heddleframes and lams and the other treadle being. directly connected to aplurality of different heddle frames andlams.

'I. Inc. hand loom comprising a heddle frame, a rigid horizontal lambelow the frame longer than the frame and projecting beyond it atopposite ends and an actuating lever below the lam, thecombination-therewith of a pair of spaced apart translators rotatablysupported above the heddle frame on fixed axes and interconnected forrotation in opposite directions, means connecting correspondingdiametrically opposite points on each translator respectively to the topedge of theheddle frame inward of the axis of the translator and to thelamoutward of the axis of the transand means connecting the lam to saidlever, whereby a downwardly directed force incident to depression ofsaid lever and applied to said lam is translated into an upwardlydirected force applied to and equalized at spaced locations along saidheddle frame, and a second treadle directly lator and outward of theends of the heddle-frame,

heddle frames, means interconnecting corresponding translators of thetwo groups for equal rotation in opposite directions, means forconnecting the individuals of an interconnected pair of translators tothe same heddle frame at opposite end portions thereof and inward of theaxes of 'the translators, a-floating lam for each heddle frame disposedhorizontally below and projecting beyond the ends of its associatedframe, means outward of the axes of the translators and outward of theends of the heddle frames connecting opposite end portions of each lamtothe translators for the heddle frame with which the lam is associated,and means, including connections to a lam and a heddle frame, forapplying downwardly directed force to a lam and simultaneously to aheddle frame not directly above or associated with that lam.

9. In a hand loom, a loom frame having a translator-frame support,heddle frames, trans- 20 lators for operating said heddle frames,treadles operating said translators, and a translator frame, in whichsaid translators are journalled, removably positioned on saidtranslator-frame support adjacent said heddle frames for removal and in-I sertion of said translators as a unit.

10. In a hand 100m, 8, heddle frame, a rigid lam below and parallel tothe heddle frame and of length to project beyond the opposite ends ofthe heddle frame, a pair of translators rotatably mounted on fixed axesabove opposite end portions of the heddle frame, said axes beingtransverse of the heddle frame and said translators being interconnectedfor rotation in opposite directions, and vertical connections betweenthe 5 heddle frame and each translator inside its axis, and verticalconnections between the lam and each translator. outside its axis, andoutside the ends of the heddle frame, whereby the frame and the 1am aresuspended from the translators, a

11. In a hand loom, a pair of pivoted members, a vertically-shiftableheddle frame suspended from said members, a lam suspended from saidmembers and extending rigidly from end to end of the frame below saidframe, the lam being suspended by means extending generally in verticaldirections at locations outward from the ends of the heddle frame, atreadle connected to said 1am for vertically moving it and rotating saidpivoted members, and tension cords extended in crossing relation betweenand connected to said pivoted members at points where both pivotedmembers are constrained to turn angularly by equal frame-shiftingamounts in any one of their two opposite directions of rotation.

12. In a hand loom, upper and lower pairs of horizontally-spaced pivotedmembers, a vertically-shiftable heddle frame disposed between said upperand lower pairs and suspended from the upper pair and connected to thelower pair, two lams each suspended from a separate pair, a treadleconnected to each lam, and tension cords extended between and connectedto said pivoted member of each pair at points where both pivoted membersare constrained to turn angularly by equal frame-shifting amounts in anyone of their two opposite directions of rotation upon the depression ofeach treadle. I 13. In a hand loom, a pair of horizontallyspaced pivotedmembers each having a pair of horizontally-disposed,diametrically-opposed connection-points and a pair ofvertically-disposed, diametrically-opposed connection-points, avertically-shiftable heddle frame suspended from the confrontinghorizontally-disposed connectionpoints of the two members, a lamsuspended from the opposed horizontally-disposed connectionpoints of thetwo members, a treadle operatively connected with said lam, and tensioncords extended between and connected each with the upper one of the pairof vertically-disposed connection-points of one member and the lower oneof such pair of the other member.

DONALD W. GREENWOOD.

